Entranced

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. – Hebrews 11:8

There once was an old tzaddik who was often entranced by his love for the Lord. One summer evening, he was delving deeply into a scriptural text and while pacing about the room, he didn’t notice that his pacing had caused him to step outside. He continued down the street, meditating on the Word, and actually ended up in a nearby town, about two or three miles away.

In that town, another man who knew the old tzaddik was getting ready to begin the day’s work when he recognized the elder. He could tell by the teacher’s clothes that man had wandered there unintentionally.

He called out. The tzaddik responded with surprise, “Why – what are you doing here?”

The man gently answered, “Teacher, you have wandered to my town.” Then, he took the tzaddik home.

We would look at such a man, ignore his brilliant teaching and deep fervor for the Lord, shake our heads and mutter, “Must be early onset of Alzheimer’s.” But deep in our hearts there is a longing for such a passion. We want to be lost in something greater, deeper and more beautiful than ourselves.

Have you ever gotten so completely entranced by love that time and space simply slipped by unnoticed? I have a wonderful wife; beautiful, intelligent, talented – a truly great lady. Such a wife is a gift from God[1].

There have been times when my ministry has so overwhelmed me that I have been ready to quit. But I have gone home and as I listened to my lady’s quiet voice, watched her move confidently about her domain and deal patiently, but persistently with the children, I have become so entranced that I have forgotten my frustrations and became able to simply go on.

Christian, a great love is available to you. All that is required is that you put God’s kingdom above all else and this world will no longer seem like your home. Like Abraham, you will wander here, but know that you are a stranger passing through[2]. Like Moses, you will stand in Pharaoh’s palace and despise it for the temporary shack that it is[3].

This sacred bemusement, this sacred forgetfulness – it is not the product of simple minds. It does, however, require simplicity of heart[4]. Apparently, our hearts are too small to hold more than one master at a time[5]. We cannot simultaneously serve Christ and materialism. We must choose to either follow Christ or our families. We cannot place Christ on the throne if our spouse or our children are already there. We must choose.

Whom do we love? By whom are we entranced[6]?

[1] Proverbs 18:22
[2] Hebrews 11:8-10
[3] Hebrews 11:24-27
[4] Matthew 10:16
[5] Matthew 6:24
[6] Joshua 24:15